Poultry-coop



t 6 e h S .W 8 e h S 2 D D A L 0 W M P A d 0 M POULTRY COOP.

No. 275,314. Patenteq Apr. 3, 1883.

N. PETERS. PhokwLilhusnphnn Washington, 04 c.

maeL 2 Sheets-heet P. M WOOLARD.

POULTRY COOP.

No. 275,314. Patented Apr.3, 1883.

N. warns, Phulo-Lilhognphar, Waihingmn. u. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT ()FFICE.

FRANCIS M. \VOOLARD, OF FAIRFIELD, ILLINOIS.

POULTRY-COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,314, dated April 3,1883,

Application filed February 7, 1883. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. WOOLARD, a citizen of the United Statesof America, re-

siding at Fairfield, in the county of Wayne and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Poultry-Coops; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form-a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of poultry-coops. which are used bydealers in transporting poultry to market, its object being to produce acoop which may be stored away in compact form when not in use, which maybe readily erected in coop form when desired, and after shipment ofpoultry therein may be knocked down and quickly packed in small bulk andconvenient shape for return-shipment.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction,whichwill be hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved poultrycoop ready for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of thesame knocked down and packed in form'for return-shipment after use. Fig.3 is a section of the coop in the plane indicated on the line w at,Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 5 isa section onthe line y 3 Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 11 3 Fig. 2. Fig. 7is a perspective view of one of the side frames detached. Fig. 8 is asimilar view ofone of the end frames. Fig. 9 is a perspective View of acorner of one ofthe top or bottom frames.

The main parts of the coop are the top and bottom frames, A B, sideframes, 0 G, and end frames 1) D. These frames are each separate anddistinct parts, which may be readily detaehed from each other, or placedtogether in coop form, as desired. The top frame consists of two sidebars, a a, connected at their ends by wide slats a and intermediately bynarrow slats a one or more of which are secured by latches, so as to bereadily removed. From the under side and outer edge of each of thereference to Fig. 1.

wide slats to projects a cleat, a notched at one end, as shown at a. Themiddle narrow slat of the top frame is slotted, as shown at 0 and theside bars, a a, are slotted near each end, as shown at a The bottomframe, B, is constructed precisely as the top frame, except that itisinclosed on its under side by a solid board instead of slats, thisboard serving as a bottom for the coop, and being provided with similarslots at points corresponding with the slots a in the middle slat of thetop frame. Near their ends the side bars a a of the top frame aremortised, as shown in dotted lines at a Figs. 1 and 2, and the side barsI) of the bottom frame are mortised near their ends, as shown at b inFigs. 1 and 2, and are also provided near their ends with transverseslots b as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. The side bars a a of the top framehave also similar transverse slots, indicated by a The side frames, (JO, are composed of end posts, 0, connected by slats c, which may also bebraced by intermediate posts, 0 The end posts are provided at their endswith tenons 0 adapted to enter the mortises a? and Z) in the side barsof the top and bottom frames respectively, and the intermediate posts, 0if such be used, are provided with pins 0 adapted to enter socketsformed to receive them in the side bars of the top and bottom frames.

The end frames, 1) 1), are composed of end bars, (I, notched at theirends, as shown at d. top and bottom bars, (1 d and slats d. The top andbottom bars, d (1 are provided with pins d to enter sockets in the endslats of the top frame and the bottom board of the bottom frame,respectively.

The main parts of the coop being now described, the manner in which theyare put together to form a coop will be understood by The bottom B islaid upon the ground or floor, with its sidebars upward. Side frames, 0(J, are then set upon the side bars I), with their tenons c entering themortises b of said side bars. These tenons are located on one side ofthe side frames, as shown in Fig. 7, so that when they are placed in themortises b they will be flush with outer side of the bars I), which barswill project on the inner side, so as to form a step, upon which thenotched ends of the end frames, D D, will rest, thus forming a strongand neat joint,

whereby the corners of the coop are thoroughly braced. The end frames,DD, are then placed in position, as shown, with their bottom bars againstthe cleats Not the bottom frame, their lower pins, (1 entering socketsin the bottom board, and their notched corners (1 fitting over the edgesof. the side bars I), so that the end bars, (I, of the end frames comesnugly against the end bars, 0. The structure is then ready for the topframe, which is laid upon the side and end frames, so that theupwardly-projecting tenons of the side frames will enter its mortises aand the upwardly-projecting pins d of the end frames and c of theintermediate side posts will enter sockets formed to receive them in theend slats, a, and the side bars a a, respectively. The main parts of thecoop having thus been placed in position they are secured by metallictie-rods E, which are bent at their ends, as shown ate, to extend underand over the side bars of the top and bottom frames respectively. Theframe adjacent to the slots may be recessed, so that the hentends of thetie-rods will be flush therein. and not project beyond the bottom or topof the coop.

It will be understood that the slots a and b" in the side bars of thetop and bottom frames are for the purpose of allowing the bent ends ofthe tie-rods E to pass through the side bars, in order that they may bebrought to proper position and so held after being turned, with ,theirend projecting.

The coop being erected as now described incloses a single chamber; butinorder to divide it into two compartments, before placing the top framein position a partition, F, may be arranged transversely therein. Thispartition consists of two end bars, ff, connected by open-work screen f,or byslats, as may bedesired. The end bars of this partition areprovided with tenonsf which enter the slots a in the middle slat of thetop frame and corresponding slots in the bottom board of the bottomframe.

The coop having been thus erected, one or more of the slats a of the topframe may be removed or swung to one side and the poultry placed in thecoop, and these slats being again secured in position the coop ofpoultry is ready for shipment.

\Vhen the coop has reached its destination and the poultry removed thestructure may be taken apart by first removing the tie-rods E, and thendetachingthe several parts from each other in the manner which will bethoroughly understood from the description already given of the mannerof placing them together; and in order to place the parts in a compact,convenient package of smallbulk for return-shipment, the partition F maybe first laid upon the bottom board of the bottom frame transverselybetween the side bars. The side frames are then laid longitudinally uponthe bottom board, side by side, between its side bars,-the end bars ofthe side frames fitting snugly in between the cleats at the oppositeends of the bottom frame. The end frames, D D, are then laid on top ofthe side frames, their ends comiug between the end bars of the sideframes. Over all is then placed the top frame, one of its side barsentering the notches b in the cleats I)", while one of the side bars bof the bottom frame enters the notches a in the cleats projecting fromthe end slats of the top frame. This brings the top surfaces of the sidebars a flush with the topsurfaces of the side bars I), and in thisposition they may be held by turning the latch-plates g, which arepivoted to the bars I), so that they will project over the bars a. Theselatches will ordinarily hold the parts firmly together; but in order tomore securely retain them in position I-insert through the slots a ofthe bars a and the slots b of the bars I) metallic tie-bars h, havingalength equal to the width of both bars a and b, and having bent ends it,which may be turned to extend across the edges of said side bars whenthe tie-bars are placed in position, as shown in Fig. 2. When the coopis thus knocked down and packed it will be seen that it is in veryconvenient shape for handling, is not liable to be broken, and is insuch small bulk that large numbers of the coops may be stored away invery limited space in a railway-car or other vehicle for shipment, andtheir cost of transportation will be comparatively low.

Having now fully described my invention and explained the manner ofusing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myselfto the special construction shown in my drawings, but reserve to myselfthe right to vary the same in any manner for the better carrying out ofthe essential principles of my improvement without departing from thetrue spirit and scope thereof.

Vhat I claim is 1. In a knockdown poultry-coop, the top and bottomframes having the side bars, a I), and provided at their ends withcleats having notches a and b, respectively, and the pivoted latches g,substantially as described.

2'. The combination, with the top and bottom frames, having the sidebars, a and 1), provided with mortises near their ends, as shown, of theside frames, 0 0, having the end bars, 0, provided with tenons to entersaid mortises, and the end frames, D D, having end bars notched to litover the said side bars, and provided with pins to enter suitablesockets in the top and bottom'frames, substantially as described.

3. The frame D, having notched corners d, in combination with the top Aand bottom B, having mortises b and sides 0, with tenons c located on aline with the inner side of the end bars, 0, substantially as shown, andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS M. VVOOLARD.

Witnesses:

E. W. J oIINsON, LAMECH DUVALL.

